As part of a national effort, Oak Street Medical was recently chosen to be included in a select group of clinics to help test a new model for both service and delivery of health care to patients.

As we all know, the cost of health care is a growing burden on governments, employers and individuals. The system needs improvement. That is why we applied and were chosen to be part of a special health care trial, called the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative. The federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services chose just 500 clinics nationwide including: Arkansas, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

Members of our office have enjoyed rafting trips for 28 years. This year, some of our staff and their families had the opportunity to raft the Umpqua River while other Oak Street Medical staff participated in the Dirty Dash that same day.

Rafting is a great sport for those who love both the outdoors and a great physical challenge. In 1984, we took our first raft trip on the McKenzie River. I wanted to provide a team-building activity for my staff and we all loved the experience. Since that time, some of our staff have rafted the:

At Oak Street Medical, we do our best to walk the talk when it comes to fitness and wellness. As a healthcare clinic, our providers and staff understand the importance of regular exercise, eating healthy and striving to meet personal goals, and we encourage one another to adopt these healthy habits.

By promoting a culture of wellness, our hope is that patients will be inspired to follow in our footsteps and walk, run, bike, swim and play more often.